I've a notion the rest were
worthless. Anyway, like many another of its kind, Sanchia's Town was
born, has lived and died like old Solomon Gundy.'

Helen's face was that of one in deep study.

'Papa was saying only day before yesterday,' she said thoughtfully,
'that this was going to happen. He said that was why he hadn't taken
the trouble to make a fight for his rights here. He said that Kemble
had bought up all of the land that was worth anything; and that he,
himself, had given Kemble the right tip. It begins to look as though
papa knew, doesn't it?'

Howard nodded vigorously.

'He knows gold mines and he knows gold signs,' he said positively.
'I've felt that all along. But----'

'But,' she took the words out of his mouth, speaking hastily, 'he
doesn't know the first thing about people; about a woman like Sanchia
Murray. And now that he says he is going to locate his real mine and
we are leaving him with her----'

'We mustn't be away too long,' he agreed.

'Look. There's some one down there at the lunch counter; at least
there's a little smoke from the stovepipe. Shall we see who it is?'

It was love among the ruins. Or, in other words, Yellow Barbee leaning
halfway across the lunch counter, toward the roguish-eyed, plump maid
who leaned slowly toward him.

'Hello, Barbee,' called Alan. And when Barbee greeted him without
enthusiasm, he asked: 'What's happened to the town?'

'Hit the slide,' said Barbee carelessly. 'Bottom fell through, I
guess, and at the same time somebody started a scare about gold being
found down toward Big Run. The fools,' he scoffed, 'piled out like
crazy sheep. You can find the way they went by a trail of old tin cups
and socks and such stuff dropped on the run.'

'Roberts, the teamster, has gone, I suppose?'

'He'll be back. Pet's old man is still packing his stuff and Roberts
is going to haul it this afternoon. I'm sticking along, helping pack,'
he grinned. Pet eyed him in high mock scorn.

'A lot of help you are,' she told him. Barbee laughed.

Howard and Helen were reining their horses about to leave when Barbee
came out into the road and put a detaining hand upon Howard's horse's
mane.

'Saw Jim Courtot last night, Al,' he said quietly.

'Here?' asked Howard quickly. So long had Courtot seemed the
embodiment of all that was elusive that it came with something of a
shock of surprise that any man had seen him.

'Yes,' Barbee nodded. 'He's trailing